LONG BEACH STATE BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Dan Monson expects leaders to step up

Considering the way things have gone early for the Long Beach State men's basketball team, it was no surprise to hear coach Dan Monson's response when asked to size up Fresno State, which plays host to the 49ers today at 1 p.m. in a nonconference game.

"We're more concerned about ourselves right now," Monson said. "To beat any Division I team, we have to get ourselves figured out. We have to find an identity to hang our hat on."

The 49ers (1-3) are fresh off a 94-72 loss at No. 10 Arizona on Monday. They are shooting just 38.8 percent from the field, getting outrebounded 42-35.5, averaging 18.7 turnovers and shooting just 63.9 percent from the free-throw line.

To top it off, senior wing James Ennis, arguably Long Beach's best player, sat out the first few minutes of the Arizona game when he showed up to the team bus late and without his game plan.

"James is a captain of this team, so it all starts at the top," Monson said. "Right now, we're trying to get our offense and our defense on the same page. We're trying to get our players disciplined and on the same page, so we have to get our captains and our leaders on board, first and foremost.

"My expectations of James are very high right now. It wasn't like I was trying to make an example out of him. The only way to get his attention was to take something away from him, and we took away starting."

The 49ers today will need Ennis to be at his best against the Bulldogs, who are 3-1 and coming off a 76-67 victory over Cal Poly on Monday. That gave Fresno State a 3-0 record against Big West Conference teams this season; the Bulldogs also beat UC Riverside and Pacific.

Leading Fresno State have been guard Allen Huddleston, a transfer from Pacific; forward Kevin Foster; and guard Kevin Olekaibe. They are averaging 13.3, 12.8 and 10 points, respectively. Foster, who is 6-foot-8, is averaging 9.0 rebounds.

Another player to watch is freshman post Robert Upshaw, who is 7-foot.

"We know right now that they have had a better (start) than us, so we're excited to go over and see if we can improve enough this week to go over there and compete," Monson said.

Gulley impressive

One of the bright spots for the 49ers has been sophomore wing Kris Gulley. He is averaging 9.3 points, having started three of four games. He's shooting 54.2 percent from the field, 55.6 (10 for 18) from 3-point range.

That's easily the best among regulars. Gulley is averaging 5.3 rebounds, third-best on the team.

"I'm pleased with Kris," Monson said. "I think Kris is coachable. He stretches the defense. He can shoot the ball. More than that, I like his activity. He's active rebounding, active defensively and just brings us another guy like James and Mike (Caffey) who can do more than just score."

Watson still with redshirt

With freshman guard Branford Jones out indefinitely (broken fibula) and junior guard Jerramy King out for the season (shoulder injury), Monson was asked if freshman guard Javion Watson will be pulled out of redshirt status.

"We've talked about it, but a player's career comes over more important than eight games," Monson said. "I don't think depth is our problem right now. In games we're going eight, nine deep and we have three kids coming in; we could go 10, 11 deep. That's a pretty deep basketball team.

"I'm not going to jeopardize his career just because we took some kids who are going to miss some games early in the (nonconference) season."

The three Monson spoke of are transfers guard Keala King, forward Tony Freeland and post Edgar Garibay. Unless King and/or Freeland have their hardship waivers approved, none of the three will be available until the Dec. 18 game at UCLA. They would actually miss the first 10 games, all nonconference.

Monson said Watson's redshirt situation might be a different story if conference games were going to be affected. The 49ers open conference play Dec. 29 against Pacific.